23 Sept 2013

'Waste of time': Hansen slams BR over LFC's 'main tactical issue'. Right or wrong...?

Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge is in scintillating goalscoring form this season, but Reds legend Alan Hansen warns that Brendan Rodgers' biggest tactical problem lies up-front, and he insists that the lack of 'physicality' in forward positions is causing his old club major problems.

In his column for the The Telegraph today, Hansen observed:

"The main tactical issue for Brendan Rodgers is a lack of variety in his attacking players.

"They are all small, nimble footed players and what stood out in the last 20 minutes against Southampton was the lack of physicality in attack.

"When high balls were directed into the box it was a waste of time".


There appears to indirect criticism here of Rodgers' transfer policy of bringing in small but technically proficient attacking players, but when Liverpool actually had 'physicality' in attack (i.e. Carroll), things were even worse.

Re the crossing issue - surely the simple solution to this is to reduce the number of high balls into the box? Crossing from the flanks is a waste of time anyway, and is a surefire way to give-up possession. This season, for example, the Reds have managed only 7 successful crosses out of 49, which is a pitiful success rate of 14%.

In any event, I disagree with Hansen here; the alleged 'lack of variety' up front is (arguably) the least of the club's problems. There are two more pressing issues that need to be addressed:

* CENTRAL MIDFIELD VACUUM: The Gerrard/Lucas partnership is a major problem for LFC right now. There's a serious lack of pace, mobility, agility, and creativity. Opposing teams ride roughshod through the huge gaps in midfield, and Gerrard doesn't have the legs to do anything about it. Due (in part) to the lack of pace, Gerrard and Lucas also drop deep too easily, which leads to the whole team following suit, and this contributes to the second half disarray we keep seeing in every game.

* BALL RETENTION: A hallmark of Brendan Rodgers' approach, but this has also gone to sh*t all over the field. The team's overall passing accuracy average is currently 5% down on last season. That may not sound like much, but it equates to 450 misplaces passes in five league games (!). Possession stats are also falling, with only 49% of possession overall in the first five league games.

If you don't keep hold of the ball, especially in attacking areas, you can't score. Solve these two issues, and I'm certain there will be a positive knock-on effect up front. What is the solution to the above issues, though?

Given the seemingly untouchable status of Gerrard and Lucas, it's difficult to see an immediate fix. If those two are fit, Rodgers will always play them, and the problem will continue.

Any ideas? I have my own preferred solution, but I'll post about it another time.



NOTE: Please stick to the Comment Policy (Click to read)


82 comments:

  1. Coutinho being injured is obviously not good, and I think that was pretty clear.
    I think we should have probably invested in another attacking option, but probably not just a big guy to lump it to, there is just no point, as that's not the way Rodgers will play.
    Suarez coming back will obviously give them another option, he could drop in the number 9 role with Sturridge ahead and Gerrard and Lucas behind. He works tirelessly so could link attack and defence up pretty well?

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  2. Maybe try allen in the midfield?

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  3. Jamie i read what you said about Rodgers giving us a sustained run of form in the first four games this season leaving us on top. Now you're saying passing accuracy has gone tits up and so has possession in the last five games. Make your mind up m8. Don't you think our 'run of form' has been more of a 'run of luck' considering the second half performances in the first four games and a complete ninety minutes in the fith game? Hanson was correct in what he said, but our problem when crossing is there's never any one in the box! I have to say you're right about the midfield though, it has to be the worst we've had in over forty years.

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  4. Gerrard was never a playmaking CAM but more of a lungbusting CAM who made deep runs and provided a goal threat, I dont know if he could play CAM in BRs system

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  5. He did a bloody good impression of one when he linked up with Torres. 2009 was our best team in donkeys years and that's where he played with alonso and mascherano behind him. I'm not sure who else plays there unless Suarez wants to?

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  6. What do you mean 'make my mind up'? One has nothing to do with the other. I didn't say passing accuracy has utterly failed, I just pointed out the fact that it's dropped 5%. Also, I said sustained run of good for THIS YEAR, not this season.

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  7. Coutinho is quality but he has not scored or assisted a goal so far this season, so we can't use his absence as an excuse. Why Brenda did not push the boat out for Eriksen, Mario gomes,or a holding midfielder i'll never know. Gerrard is showing his age of late but he should still be deployed further up the pitch where is most effective.

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  8. Well those day are certainly gone! forgot what it was like to have a midfield.

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  9. I know what you mean :-(

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  10. We seem to have adopted a siege mentality, instead of hunting the ball down, it's more of try to break us down.

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  11. Many of our problems could be solved with a more aggressive attitude. We don't fight hard enough to maintain possession or make space. We don't aggressively pressure the ball to win it back. We don't contest free balls at all that I can see. We don't pass and move to keep the ball. We have the players, just not the 'take no prisoners' attitude.

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  12. Why not try Sakho and Toure in the Gerrard and Lucas roles?

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  13. Spot on, Phil. Moving Gerrard higher up the pitch is clearly the solution. Henderson has more energy/stamina etc, so play him alongside Lucas. I don't see why Gerrard *has* to play as a deep-lying midfielder. Where is the pressing need? He's proven his attacking qualities multiple times over the years, so it's not like it's a risk. It's the best option for the *team*, and that's what should matter.

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  14. Cheers, Jay, and thanks for commenting. Agree with you re the closing down issue. Rodgers' repeatedly tells us that his approach is based on 'high intensity pressing' all over the field, and that seems to have disappeared recently.

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  15. Touré, yes but opinions already split after that when Aspas and Alberto were signed. For me it's simple - we needed two CB, a DM, a LB and an AM. We managed to get a CB and a LB for free which is great. Meaning we had 49 million to spend on three players. I think we can safely say we didn't do too well. Buying the players we've bought is like buying a couch before you have a house to put it in.

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  16. Let's hope it happens:-)

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  17. It's Suarez's best position and Coutinho's too. For me Suarez is better up front than Coutinho so I'd play him out wide and Coutinho behind Sturridge. Henderson on the right. Gerrard could play the Xavi role but he would need to play more conservatively. I'm sure he would too if the guys in front of him would create a chance every now and again.

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  18. I want to ask a question to all the readers out there and you as well Jamie, why did we go for Aspas or Alberto when we had the chance of buying Eriksen? Another point why cant Brendan change the formation around use the wingers - Sterling, Ibe, Moses and play a striker alongside Sturridge maybe push the strikers up further afield and ask them to pressurise the defenders. We may play fancy one touch football but we clearly have a lack of goals in us - we cant expect Suarez to work miracles we need the team around him to step up a gear!

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  19. Henderson will be totally lost back there. Combined with the fact that Lucas would add nothing to the mix, we'd get overrun even more in midfield than we were on Saturday. There is only one solution and that is for Lucas to be replaced by an actual, holding or defensive midfielder.

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  20. Playing Lucas and hendo together in a team will work well when we have at least two of the three suarez, starridge or coutinho there. and given that Gerrard is exhausted it is right time to get Allen in

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  21. O.K, so would you say this season, have we had good form, or good luck? based on the fact that we have hung on in in the first four games, mainly thanks to our goalkeeper, and were completely inept in the Southampton game.

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  22. Why would Henderson be 'totally lost'? Based on what? That's his natural position. It's where he plays for England U21s. He is faster, fitter, more mobile/agile than Gerrard, which would immediately improve on the current situation.

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  23. I don't have a problem with Lucas. Also, I see the henderson role as more dynamic which should suit him. We have to work with what we've got. Clearly there is an opportunity for Allen to get back in now too.

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  24. Good question, i think they ( Aspas and Alberto) were bought in to add depth to the squad. Rodgers then said we would get players to improve the team, well he certainly failed. Think only Rodgers can give you a true answer.

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  25. The problem with the Lucas-Gerrard pivot is that none of them can
    receive the ball under pressure from the back and turn around and pass
    to begin the attack. Here is where Joe Allen can be useful, due to this
    limitation the pass from the keeper has to be to the fullbacks or Agger
    because Skrtel simply refuses to receive the ball. What Southampton did
    was they left Skrtel alone and pressed everyone else and due to that we
    ended up in trouble far too often at the back. What we need is a DM like
    Allen in place of Lucas to accompany Gerrard because he is great in
    spraying passes while facing towards goal.But then the problem arises
    that Allen is not that good defensively, so its a catch 22 for Rodgers .
    Southampton have got an ideal double pivot in Wanyama and Schneiderlein
    for a system that Rodgers wants to implement. But with what we have got
    I think Alberto in the Gerrard role with Lucas and Hendo or Allen
    Gerrard Hendo as a Midfield 3, while a midfield 2 with the options that
    we have got would be suicidal with more and more teams playing passing
    football, however it can work against teams like West Ham and Stoke who
    do not work the ball around midfield.

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  26. If coutinho were available I'd pick him too. When he and Johnson are back fit again, we'll be so much better

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  27. Wanyama gave the ball away constantly through that game. He was also caught in possession at a time when we weren't even pressing well.
    I doubt he would have made the difference for us, our problems were also creativity being almost totally absent

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  28. In the situation where our defensive midfield is not confident enough to receive a pass from back four, we need someone forward up the pitch to receive a longer ball and hold it, given the absence of coutinho or suarez that was not happening

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  29. The way he pushed players away off the ball was noteworthy for me, although I agree that he took a lot of time on the ball. But his main role would be to break up play and shield the defence which he can do much better than Lucas. He is not the most ideal player out there but he could do a job for us at the moment. The creativity problem was due to the fact that we could not provide the ball to our creative players quickly enough , Henderson is could not link up the same way with Aspas as he does with Coutinho,which is acceptable. But the way Gerrard and Lucas turned their back when Mignolet struggled with the ball at the back is unacceptable for me.

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  30. The solution is really quite simple and hopefully it will be implemented in the next game. That would be to play Henderson as our trequartista. As to why our crosses are useless, it is also because they are poorly executed. The time to cross is when we have 3 other players storming in on goal.


    Jesus' cross is the key to our salvation! When Nasri converted it for 4-0, it was at the far post with Kompany and Negredo also rushing to meet it but Kompany dummying.

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  31. Dont tell me you want Carrol back!! ;)
    I think Sturridge and Moses are good enough at holding the ball and creating chances( but Sturridge was selfish vs Soton IMO), the problem was the ball was never played centrally and Sturridge had to pick the ball up wide, which was partly due to absence of Coutinho but then there were 11 players on the field and they should have done their job, which I think they didn't.

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  32. Actually our tactical is "unpredictable" style. Even our own player always misunderstanding each other...The idea is there but the player not up to it, simple as that !
    1 more thing i like to mention from what i see is our player a bit lazy. I may lack to statistic to prove it but what i feel what i wrote....

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  33. No he hasn't assisted, but he is usually heavily involved in the link up play, and is a good link between the defence and attack.
    He is always looking to create, where as players like Henderson and Lucas are a bit more defensive minded.
    Gerrard is more effective further forward, but I just don't think he has the engine for it any more.
    I also think we should have gone for Eriksen, he was cheap, and looks like he will adapt pretty well to the Prem so far.

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  34. On a lighter note...it has taken Bawlotelli only 4 matches to descend into self-destruction at AC Milan...anybody surprised.

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  35. Who said Gerrard isn't running fast...He's got plenty of pace but the thing is the tactics puts him play more defensive and deeper.....He should be attacking..........

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  36. I still think it relies on quality full backs, of which we only have one. Part of what makes the system effective is the ability to control possession from flank to flank, not just in the middle. You need ball playing full backs to do that and Johnson is all we've got. The team is still learning to work this system and right now it's far from complete. It does make it even more strange the decision to play 4 CB on the weekend, but I don't think the midfield is the problem. We're not doing well as a team, it's not 2 players it's 11.

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  37. I think we should go back to what served us well since January.


    4-2-3-1, Henderson down the middle, pace players out wide, Sturridge up front. Henderson is pivotal if we want to press and squeeze the life out of teams and from an attacking base position he has the work rate to get back and assist Gerrard and Lucas in defence. Henderson out wide is not as effective as through the middle and someone like Aspas through the middle does not work. Also, some FULL BACKS help Brendan!!!


    Other than that I'm not sure there's much else we can do. IMO you can't drop Lucas because he is the only dedicated midfield ball winner in the entire squad. If Gerrard isn't cutting it I have no problem with him getting subbed off, if anything it prolongs his career and it's not a sin to sub the captain. Joe Allen can have a role off the bench in keeping the ball and tidying things up.

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  38. Full backs provide fluidity in moving the ball and that's why we lost the last game. There's a huge impact on the team if there is no width and we struggle to get the ball out of our half because we have two training cones out wide in Sakho and Toure instead of players in their real position. That's my response to not working as a team because regardless of the results in the first few matches, we had a game plan in switching to a 4-4-1-1 and defending in the second half and the team worked well together.

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  39. Everybody, i mean the pundits xplayers everyone has missed the main point. the reason for poor passing stats, our players are standing too far from one another, accurate passing required quick close interplay. we were also clueless the other day because of lack of meaningful movement, this is what cortinho does. he links all the passes together. the problem is in midfield, no doubt.

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  40. its an oxymoron even posting this thread jamie...rogers wont drop Gerrard or lucas..or mix it up with them .....there is a sure fire blue print to beat liverpool and if so called inferior teams use it we will get beat or run close...

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  41. I agree mate, but if we can get further up the pitch it mightbbe very different. Another thing I don't understand is if we insist on centre backs who are comfortable on the ball, why do we need two deep centre midfielders taking it off them - one is often too many. I was really impressed with Swansea again yesterday. All over the pitch they were comfortable on the ball and always had players offering options for a pass. We've been decent in the first half, but possession football should pay dividends later in the game, when you've tired the opposition out, but we just arent finishing the job

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  42. Johnson is really important. He works the whole length of the pitch, which takes tremendous fitness, so it's not surprising he might get caught out once in a while. Then pundits question his defensive prowess, based on his younger days, because they're too lazy to recognise the incredible effort he puts in. I rate Enrique too - if he could improve his end product, then he wil be a very imoressive full back. I only disagree with you slightly in that our midfield is also a problem

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  43. Karikamuri Shanmugan9:11 pm, September 23, 2013

    Gerrard should have been subbed in the 2nd half against Southampton,he was so poor,losing the ball numerous times in dangerous areas.
    Any other player would have got a lot of bashing after such a display,but Stevie G continuous to be untouchable.Rodgers should drop Stevie and play Alberto-Lucas-Henderson in the midfield..!

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  44. Karikamuri Shanmugan9:16 pm, September 23, 2013

    Another worrying thing is the lack of 'drive' in the team.Whenever Liverpool go behind at Anfield I get the feeling,here we go again.The team just does not have the mental strength to live up to the expectations and go all out for a winner/goal in the final 20 minutes,they look flat and resigned to their fate.

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  45. I can't see any easy solution. I definitely agree that crossing the ball in to the box over and over again is stupid but that was the least of the problems against Southampton as far as I was concerned.

    No one is picking the ball up from midfield and turning to run at the opposition. This changes with Suarez back. This will allow more space for Sturridge as the defenders will be concerned about Suarez running at them. It means Suarez playing at the apex but without Coutinho that doesn't seem a problem as there is no one I feel can cover that position well enough.A problem from this is that Henderson will have to try and cover that space from the wide position and that leaves us without a player to be making use of that part of the pitch.

    I noticed a lot of balls came over to Henderson on the right hand side from Mignolet. Perhaps if this is the most comfortable place to put it Suarez will be in that area as he can usual kill a ball and make space even when under pressure. Having said that a lot of those passes were over Henderson's head and that means they would be over Suarez's too. I think Mignolet's distribution has to improve in both the short and long term. Either that or we play a formation where there are more options on the ground for him when he is on the ball.

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  46. I have been thinking about Gerard being higher up the pitch for a while but I ma not so sure. Henderson could do a job working the ball in between DM and AM doing all the dog work basically in covering for the other two but I am not convinced. I don't think Gerard can play there for the whole game. He is tiring in a deeper role and preferably we want our players pressing from the front. Gerard won't do this the whole game and that means we will be inviting teams on to us just as much. The difference will be we will not have a passer of the ball of Gerards quality now in the deeper positions and that limits quick counter attacks. For me the question is moot as the return of Suarez will solve a couple of problems for us.


    I know Jaimie doesn't agree but we will see if there is an improvement when he comes back or not for sure. As long as the team plays like a team and don't try to go through him too much we will look better than Saturday.


    Would Ilori be a better option as FB than the options we used on Sat?

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  47. Sorry to jump in but I would not say we have been paying well this season really. We have been fairly resilient until the Swansea game but there have been flaws for all to see in the opening games. Losing two first team players has not helped us but I wouldn't say we were lucky or playing well. I just think we did well in some areas in certain parts of games and that is what got us to where we are. We have not played a very good match for most of a game yet this season (IMO). This has to improve if we are to climb back in to the top four and try and stay as high as possible.

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  48. I hope we get passed United on Wed as I would like to see some more experimentation in midfield and we need to be playing teams we should beat to do it. I wouldn't mind seeing those players myself. I would also like to see Allen in the mix. I was dismayed by the lack of movement for the man on the ball on sat and Allen gives that. I hope Rodgers has been leaving him out while he has been hitting the gym. I want to see Allen using his lower center of gravity more to his advantage.

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  49. Gerrard is slowing down after a great career while Lucas is a complete non entity.No pace, vision ,physical strength or stamina ,he can`t head a ball or shoot and has poor positional sense, most of the yellow cards he picks up are needless, he rarely comes away with a ball clean instead prodding the ball anywhere.How on earth he is still a regular in the team is mystifying.

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  50. Welcome Jay!

    Your question is interesting, why Aspas and Alberto, why not Erikson!

    The answer is simple! Every supporter with half a brain would have bought Erikson. Obviously, we have more intellect than BR and a lot of the so called Ex LFC players turned pundits!

    How about signing Diame for 6M! Surely he is an upgrade on Lucas as a DM?

    God help Liverpool!!

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  51. I would love to read your solution. Please post it.

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  52. Not sure if you guys have observed. When Southampton was pressing high up, our defense were in sixes & seven. They couldn't get the ball out to the midfield. Worst, Mignolet couldn't kick beyond the middle circle.
    Tactically BR failed to address this and turn the game around.

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  53. Defo need an attacking mid,wish br would let stevie g go and see what he has left...more goals a no brainer!!!

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  54. This post was one of your very best JK!

    I agree totally. I love Stevie but he seems to be a defending mid these days. Great passer. I would like us to use the likes of Hendu, Ibe, Alberto at mid with Sturridge and Moses up front. With Suarez back perhaps Moses at mid.......

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  55. Joel Matt Murdock Hwa4:14 am, September 24, 2013

    CM pairings - Sakho/SG first choice. Whilst Allen and Hendo can cover there if needed. Sell Lucas.

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  56. January strategy MUST = real midfielder !!!!

    We blew it on Lomela, Eriksen or HK. I know they are gone but there are tons of god players in this world.......,

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  57. Joel Matt Murdock Hwa4:16 am, September 24, 2013

    Players look tired and knackered. Perhaps the pre-season and trainings have taken its toll. International friendlies don't help either.

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  58. Joel Matt Murdock Hwa4:20 am, September 24, 2013

    SG is still a threat. Look at the two freekicks he took. Was on target if not for Boruc to save them. He is our setpiece specialist, plus he is such a talisman to the team. Just his name in the team gives a psychological boost to the team. Real problem is Lucas. He was great in the past, but this season, he didn't do anything that merit his inclusion into first team. BR should seriously considering dropping him, until he find back his form. It's affecting the team dynamics tremendously.

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  59. Joel Matt Murdock Hwa4:23 am, September 24, 2013

    Agree with Hendo in midfield, and SG move up to replace the void left by Coutinho. If Coutinho is back, are we gonna put SG on the right? I don't have problem with that, because he scored 23 goals when he last played there for Rafa.

    Seriously, Lucas should be dropped until he find his form.

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  60. Joel Matt Murdock Hwa4:26 am, September 24, 2013

    Spot on Dan! Too stiff both SG and Lucas. They can't keep hold of the possession. If you notice they depended on Coutinho to hold, and control the pace of the game. We miss a pacemaker in our midfield, someone like Alonso/Pirlo who can control from the back.

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  61. Joel Matt Murdock Hwa4:27 am, September 24, 2013

    We already have one yet to be converted. His name is Sakho. :)

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  62. Wasnt it bcs Erikson turned down our offer?

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  63. Indeed, he'd potentially make a good DM, although I wonder if he has the mobility, but I was surprised that we weren't in for at least one enforcer type, because tiki taka is all well and good, but we need a midfield raider to win back posession; Gerrard doesn't do it. and Lucas is either outmuscled or commits fouls.

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  64. Amen. I have been saying thag about Gerrard for 2 years. Unfortunately whilst he remains bigger than the club our progress will be halted. Angers me how we never moved for Erikksen despite De Boer himself mentioning us specifically. As usual Spurs moved quickly and we end up with egg on our face. Is Levy just that much better than Ayre or are players just not interested in us anymore? Whichever is the truth it's worrying.

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  65. The system worked well in the first three games, not so well in the last two. However i think with Suarez coming back who i think will be played in the Coutinho role behind Strurridge the creativity will improve, also as Moses beds into the team i also expect his output to improve. People slate Glen Johnson but he is a important player whos over lapping runs provide much needed outballs from defence.



    If he is fit enough i think Kelly needs to be brought in at RB until GJ is fit. These small tweaks can make a big difference.

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  66. Allen has been out with a hamstring injury not left out by BR.

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  67. Make Sakho the D-Link with Lucas and move Gerrard up to attacking mid.We have too many defenders and it would make sense to utilise Sakho's versitility.

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  68. Moving J. Allen along side Lucas will not work. You are putting two small players together. I agree thought that Gerrard is being played in the wrong position. At his advanced age he should be running too much but he has to simply dictate the pace of the game through possession and and distribution which is currently lacking after Coutinho's injury. Hendo would be a better option to partner Lucas but if not, I still stick to converting Sakho to a holding midfielder. What I have seen so far is the guy can pass the ball, can tackle, can head and is mobile!! We should have bought Wanyama and we let him go. The two most needy positions in our team right now are the Defensive link and attacking mid.

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  69. Liverpool never made a bid! Rodgers was not interested!

    We made a bid for his teammate, Toby Adeirweld but at the last minute. Athletico chased him, lured him and made him feel wanted. Liverpool waited typically until the last minute.

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  70. Joel Matt Murdock Hwa10:19 am, September 24, 2013

    Ross, from what I see in his last two games, Sakho HAS the mobility, pace, aggression, passing. Maybe what will be lacking is his decision making, but this quality can be honed.

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  71. BR has loss the plot imo. Since the beginning of this season, we have not been playing tiki taka at all. We were playing with a small club mentality trying to scrape results from bigger clubs by betting everything on defense after scoring early. This explain the lower possession stats compared to last season and why we could not even string two passes together without losing the ball. I am sorry but thats not the liverpool way. Lets leave it for the likes of stoke.

    BR should seriously consider reshuffling his midfield as Gerrard and especially Lucas are not good enough. Gerrard is getting old and should be benched from time to time. I always said Lucas was shit but everybody was criticising me for not knowing anything about football. Now people are starting to see how overrated this guy actually is and how meaningless his contribution to the team is especially since his return from injury. If i were BR i would change the whole midfiled and give the chance to other players to prove themselves: Allen for the good for nothing Lucas, Alberto for the injured Coutinho and Henderson for the ageing Gerrard! The best team selection against Man utd should be like that:


    ____________Mignolet__________
    Kelly___Toure___Sakho___Enrique
    Allen___Henderson___Alberto___
    Suarez___Sturridge___Moses___

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  72. Definitely a big change in emphasis on possession from the first half of last season and there afterwards. Seems like Rodgers wants us to penetrate a lot more on the counter and look to play things quicker in the last third, instead of looking to keep the ball a lot more for both defensive and attacking purposes. We still need to keep the ball considerably better at times, even if there is less emphasis on doing that than in the first half of last season.

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  73. Doesn't look like your appreciation of the game has improved. Ability to kneejerk however- that's a different story. Lucas completed 95.6% of his passes. and Opta shows he was successful in 75% of his tackles. He is nowhere near as effective as he was just before his injuries but you have always said he was rubbish even when he was playing really well.
    You honestly think that Allen Henderson Alberto would have made that team play better, and would get us top 4 level performances week after week? Where is the experience? What about Allen's lack of match practice and probable lack of confidence? How does Alberto manage to convert so quickly to the PL?
    Small club mentality? We have not lost any more games than Utd, Chelsea, City or Arsenal above us. All of whom have won or drawn games playing poorly, just like us.
    Stop panicking.

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  74. Oh right, fair enough I must have missed that one. Anyway I hope he has been doing some strength training and practicing shielding the ball. I think he has the kind of movement we missed on sat.

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  75. its not a knee jerk reaction. How would you describe our performance since the beginning of the season? I am sorry but those kind of performances are only seen when small teams from lower divisions play against PL teams in cups. They score early by chance, an og, a penallty or whatever and try desperately, for the rest of the match to hold onto this lead. BIg clubs on the other hand are not afraid to attack. You score one on them, they score two on you. Thats the spirit. Thats the winning mentality that seperates the big clubs from the small ones. Big clubs has confidence in themselves and go for it till the end. LFC lacks this attitude. Thats why we are no top 4 anymore.



    As for lucas i still believe he brings nothing to the table despite those so called stats from Opta. Did those stats tell you how many silly fouls he conceded in dangerous areas? Watch the matches again, you will see that his tackling is very rash and clumsy ala charlie adam. The latter was booed because of his tackling, but at least he was providing some assists and goals. What does Lucas do?

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  76. The midfield 3 i chose will be certainly better than the midfield 3 of aspas, gerrard and lucas that cost us 5 points against the likes of swansea and mighty Southampton!


    Henderson is younger and has definitely more stamina than gerrard. Alberto has been bought as attacking midfield and can certainly cover for coutinho until he returns, cant he?
    Allen will be better than lucas for sure. Anybody would...

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  77. I agree with you Jamie on your post. our midfield is lacking pace mobility agility etc. I like Lucas but seems to have lost a yard of pace since his injury and Gerrard is not the bombarding powerhouse of player he use to be he seems too cautious which does affect our play still a class player but its time now to find a new holding mid centre mid and an attacking winger who can create and give competition to Lucas and Gerrard. we need to sign players of quality for the now not for the future we have many in the youth setup on loan or in the squad.another striker is needed also.I believe were 4 players away from getting a top4 postiton.this needs to be addressed in January transfer window. Salvio, gaitan, suseweta (athletic Bilbao player sorry for the misspelling) iker munain , witsel, biglia, reges, Costa, damiao, rues, one of bender brothers lol, Alvarez, brana, m Suarez. I feel we badly missed out on mkh he is much better alternative to Moses.these kind of players we need for the here&now not for the future.I no some of these will cost 20mil+ or jus under but we need to spend in quality not in quantity the money is there for these players I just feel they still don't trust be after kd commoli fiasco with over spending. something needs to be addressd in the midfield and attacking sense.I just hope Suarez bangs in the goals to keep us in or around top4 position. may god help coutinho recover quick because the team needs him big time. Ynwa . Peace

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  78. sturidge is too selfish.we need to buy a defendive midfielder,a striker and another number 10

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  79. Sturridge is too what now? He's a striker. He is on the pitch to shoot on goal.

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  80. That's what Busquets does at Barca. Who is our Busquets?

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  81. That's the problem, we don't seem to have one, Lucas makes a lot of tackles, but he's not the impediment a good DM ought to be, I'm not saying he's a bad player, but as we've seen in recent games, winning back possession is something the midfield seems to struggle with. Allen can make the tackles, but seems to lack the drive to forge forth with the ball, both he and Lucas are neat and tidy link players, playing it simple, which is good but apart from potentially Sakho, not sure who we have in that mould.

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